Variable-speed transmission



Dec. 28, 1948. A. G. BADE VARIABLE SPE ED TRANSMISSION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Sept. 30, 1944 Alfred G- Baa'e INVENTOR.

AT TURKEY.

Patented Dec. 28, 1948 2,457,431 VARIABLE-SPEED TRANSMISSION Alfred G.Bade, Wauwatola,

Wis., minor to The Fall: Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation ofWisconsin Application September 30, 1944, Serial No. 556,524 I Claims.(Cl. 74281) This invention relates to variable speed transmissions oithe type disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 471,118,filed January 2, 1943, now abandoned.

Variable speed transmissions oi this type commonly involve a set oitapered, inclined, planet rollers which are normally urged into pressurecontact with an encircling control ring. In such transmissionsvariations in speed are eilected by shifting the control ring in adirection lengthwise of the rollers, an adjustment that is readilyperformed during operation oi the unit. But the normal contact pressuresbetween the rollers and ring interfere with such adjustment when theunit is at rest.

One object oi the present invention is to provide means ior releasingthe pressures between the rollers and control ring in transmissions ofthe type mentioned in order to permit speed changing adjustment whilethe unit is at rest.

Other more specific objects and advantages will appear, expressed orimplied, from the iollowing description or an illustrative embodiment oithe present invention.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional viewof a variable speed transmission constructed in accordance with thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view with the upper half oi the housing removed.

The variable speed transmission selected for illustration is shownenclosed in a housing I3 horizontally split in a mid-plane to provide alower base section II and a removable cover section I 2. The lower basesection II '0! the housing provides support for all oi the essentialparts 01' the transmission so that the cover section I2 may be removedwithout disturbing'or impairing the iunctioning thereof.

In this instance the transmissiogincludes a rotary cage it having a pairoi end heads I4 and I6 integrally connected by a set oifperipherallyspaced longitudinal bars I4. One end oi the cage is supported by ahollow from the end head II and journalled in a bearing I3 in a bearingsupport I3 fixed to the base section II in a manner to be laterdescribed. The cage I3 is driven by a shait i3 keyed or otherwise fixedin and supported by the hollow trunnion II. The opposite end of the cageI3 is supported by the inner end oi a driven shait 20 through a hearing2| carried by the latter and seated within a cylindrical recess 22iormed in the center oi the end head I4.

The driven shait 23 is 'journalled in a bearing trunnion ll projecting a2 22' seated in a bearing support 23 carried by the base section II ofthe housing and including a removable cover section 24. The shaft 20 isalso .keyed or otherwise fixed to the hub 25 oi a driven ring 23, thehub 25 being journalled in a bearing 21 seated in a bearing support 28provided in the base section I I and having a removable cover 29.

The cage I3 serves as a retainer and driver for a set oi inclined planetrollers 30, preferably three in number, each being equipped at oppositeends with suitable bearings 3i, closely guided in radial slots 32 formedin the end heads I4 and I5. Each roller is fashioned at one end toprovide a tapered section 33 for rolling contact with an encirclingcontrol ring 34 to be hereinafter further described. A collar 33, keyedor otherwise fixed to the opposite end oi each roller, is shaped toprovide a roller 36 for rolling contact with a ring 31 carried by thedriven ring 26 and also shaped to provide a pinion 38 that meshes withan internal" ring gear 39 also carried by the driven ring 26. Anotherring 43 carried by the driven ring 26 is fashioned to provide aninwardly directed annular shoulder 4i ior contact with annular shoulders42 provided on the several rollers 30 to retain the latter againstlongitudinal displacement.

In this instance the rings 31 and 40 are secured to the driven ring 25by appropriate means, such as bolts 43, the ring gear 39 being looselyconfined between the rings 31 and 40 and retained against rotationrelative thereto by the bolts 43 which are loosely engaged inappropriate slots 44 formed in the outer periphery of the ring gear.Mounted in the manner described, the ring gear 39 has sufllcient ireedomto automatically center itself with respect to the set of pinions 38with which it is engaged.

The several rollers 30 are normally urged outwardly by a central ring 45so as to develop the desired pressure contacts between their taperedsections 33 and the control ring 34 and between the rings 38 thereof andthe ring 31. In this instance the central ring 45 is in rolling contactwith an intermediate portion 46 of each roller and is shown carried by abearing 41 fixed on the end oi a pintle 48 mounted in the inwardlyprojecting hub portion 49 of the cage end head I4.

The cage and the ring 45 carried thereby are axially movable, the cageend head I4 being axially movable on its bearing 2| and the inner racering and rollers oi the bearing I8 being axially movable within itsouter race ring for that purpos. The cage I3 is normally urged towardthe right (Fig. 1) by means to be later described so that the ring 43normally reacts against the several inclined rollers Slito urge the sameoutwardly for the purpose hereinabove noted.

thrust, transmitted through the rings 51 and 68, bearing 65 and cage l3,forces the ring 45 against the several inclined rollers 30 in a mannerto force the latter outwardly against the encircling rings 84 and 31.The thrust thus transmitted may be regulated by adjustment of the nut 15on the tension bolt 15.

' In the transmission shown provision is made and overlying the taperedsections 33 of the rollers and the control ring 34. The frame 52'includes an-element 53 containing a slot 54 extending parallel to cagel3. A pin 55 projecting radially from the control ring 34 extendsthrough the slot 54 and is closely fitted therein to retain the ring 34against rotation. The pin 55 also coacts with means operableto shift thesame lengthwise of the slot 54 to thereby effect a speed-changingadjustment of the control ring 34 along the rollers 30. The means shownfor this purpose will now be described.

A plate 56 slidable seated upon the horizontal frame 52' contains adiagonally disposed channel 51 formed in its under side and in which theprojecting end of the pin 55 is slidably engaged. The plate 55 carriesan integral nut 58 which is threaded on an actuating screw shaft 59 thatextends transversely of and above the slotted element 53. The shaft 59is shown journalled at opposite ends in lugs 60 carried by the frame 52'and equipped with an actuating gear tached to one end thereof. Thearrangement is such that by rotating the gear 6i and shaft 59 the plate55 may be moved transversely of the slotted element 53 to thereby shiftthe pin 55 and ring 34 lengthwise of the slot 54 as a result of thereaction of the diagonal channel 51 upon the pin 55.

The gear SI and shaft 59 may be rotated and controlled by anyappropriate means, such as a meshing gear 52 carried by the cover l2 andoperated by a crank 53 or the like. Sleeves 55 mounted on the shaft 59adjacent the supporting lugs 60 serve as stops to limit the travel oftheplate 55and consequently of the pin 55 and control ring 34.

In the transmission shown the cage [3 and ring 45 are normally urgedtoward the right (Fig.

l) by mechanism now to be described and comprising an upright leverstructure 65 mechanically connected to the trunnion ll of the cagethrough a combined journal and thrust bearing 66 axially fixed on thetrunnion. The lever 55 includes a ring formation 61 that looselyencircles a ring 68 fixed to the outer race of the bearing 68. Twodiametrically opposed horizontal pins 69 carried by the ring 61 are inswivel engagement with the ring 58 to provide support for the lever 65and to also afford a thrust transmitting rockable connection between thelever and ring 68.

The lever structure 55 is equipped at its lower end with a round-headedstud seated in a socketed member 1| formed in the base I I of thehousing to provide a fulcrum therefor. A hollow' boss 12 carried by theupper portion of the lever constitutes a housing for a compressionspring 13 which reacts against the head 14 of a tension bolt thatextends through the boss 12 and through the fixed upright structure 50in which it is mounted.

The arrangement is such that the spring 13 normally reactson the leverstructure 55 to rock the same toward the right (Fig. 1) and this theaxis of rotation of-th'e for relieving the: pressure between the'several rollers and'ring 34 to permit ready adjustment of the latteralong the rollers. when the transmission is at rest. For this purpose acam 11 is provided disposed to act against the upper end 18 of the leverstructure 55 in a manner to shift the latter against the thrust of thespring 13'arid in a direction to shift the cage l3 and ring toward theleft (Fig. 1).

In this instance the pressure releasing cam 11 is shown carried by ashaft 18 iournalled in a bushing 19 detachably fixed in the housingcover I2 and equipped with an appropriate operating lever 80. A springloaded ball 8! functioning at a detent,. coacts with one or the other oftwo sockets 82 provided in the hub of the lever 80 to yieldably' retainthe latter in either of two positions. In the position shown the cam 11is ineffective and does not interfere with the normal action of thespring .13, but by rotating the lever an andcam 11 through ahalf turnfrom the position shown the cage :3 and ring 35 are thereby axiallyshifted to a position where the pressures between the rollers 30 andring 3% are entirely relieved.

Provision is also preferably made for visibly indicating the position ofthe control ring 34 in all of its positions of adjustment. For thatpurpose an indicator dial 84 is mounted on the housing cover if, thedial being carried by a shaft 85 equipped at its lower end with a pinion85 that meshes with a rack 87 carried by and movable with the plate 56.Since the extent of movement of the plate 56 corresponds at all timeswith the extent of movement of the pin and ring 30, the dial 84, thusactuated by the plate 55 will of course accurately register the positionof the ring 34 at all times.

The transmission shown is also equipped with a cooling device in theform of a centrifugal fan 88 carried by the drive shaft 85 and containedwithin a dished shield 89 attached to the end of the housing. The shieldis provided with an an admission opening 98 at its center and is shapedto direct a; blast of air from the fan 88 lengthwise of and over theexternal surfaces of the housing, p Various changes may be made in theembodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described withoutdeparting from or sacrificing the advantages to the invention as definedin the.

appended claims. I

I claim: 1

' bearings carried by said base portion for supporting said cageindependently of said cover portion, a set of=inclined planet rollersmounted for rotation with and with respect to said cage, a ringencircling said rollers and in rolling contact therewith, meanscarriedtby said base portion independently of said cover portion forshifting said ring relative to said rollers to vary the speed ratio ofthe transmission, and means carried by said cover portion andoperablefrom with, means supported by said base portion independently of saidcover portion for holding said ring against rotation, and meanssupported by said base portion independently of said cover portion forshifting said ring lengthwise of said rollers to vary the speed ratio ofthe transmission.

3. In a variable speed transmission the combination of a housing, a setof relatively inclined planet rollers therein, a control ring encirclingsaid rollers and adjustable lengthwise thereof to vary the speed ratioof the transmission, means for forcing said rollers against said ring,spring urged lever mechanism within said housing normally operable onsaid last named means to maintain pressure contact between said rollersandring, and means operable on said mechanism from a point externally ofsaid housing to relieve the pressure between said rollers and ring.

4. In a variable speed transmission the combination of a set ofrelatively inclined planet rollers, a control ring encircling saidrollers and adjustable lengthwise thereof to vary the speed ratio of thetransmission, means for forcing said rollers against said ring, springurged lever mechanism. normally operable on said last named means tomaintain pressure contact between said rollers and ring, and cam meansoperable on said mechanism to effect quick release of the pressuresbetween said rollers and ring.

5. In a variable speed transmission the combination of a set ofrelatively inclined planet rollers, a control ring encircling saidrollers and adjustable lentghwise thereof to vary the speed I ratio ofthe transmission, means including a resiliently urged level normallyefiective to maintain pressure contacts between said rollers and ring,and means operable on said lever to effect quick release of thepressures between said rollers and ring.

6. In a variable speed transmission the combination of a set ofrelatively inclined planet rollers, a control ring encircling saidrollers and adjustable lengthwise thereof to vars the speed ratio of thetransmission, means for forcing said rollers against said ring, a leveroperatively engaged with saidlast named means, a fixed fnlcrum for oneend of said lever, and resilient means acting on the other end of saidlever to normally maintain said rollers in pressure con-- tact with saidring.

7. In a variable speed transmission the combination of a set ofrelatively inclined planet rollers, a control ring encircling saidrollers and adjustable lengthwise thereof to vary the speed ratio of thetransmission, means for forcing said rollers against said ring, a leveroperatively engaged with said last named means, a fixed fulcrum for oneend of said lever, resilient means acting on the other end of said leverto normally maintain said rollers in pressure contact with said ring,and means for nullifying the effect of said resilient means to therebyrelease the pressure between said rollers and ring.

- ALFRED G. BABE,

RLFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,109,695 Graham Mar. 1, 19382,168,274 Schmitter Aug. 1, 1939 2,238,801 Schmitter Apr. 15, 19412,255,200 Wahl Sept. 9, 1941 2,275,243 Bade Mar. 3, 1942

